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Table 7 Bivariate analysis of predictors of chronic malnutrition among children aged 6–23 months

From: How well do WHO complementary feeding indicators relate to nutritional status of children aged 6–23 months in rural Northern Ghana?

Characteristic

Classification of chronic malnutrition

Test statistic

Normal % [95 % confidence interval]

Stunted % [95 % confidence interval]

Religion of mother

   

 Christianity

81.8 [CI: 78.7 – 84.6]

18.2 [CI: 15.4 – 21.3]

χ2 = 9.4 p = 0.038

 Islam

76.2 [CI: 72.3 – 79.7]

23.8 [CI: 20.3 – 27.7]

 ATR

75.4 [CI: 68.5 – 81.2]

24.6 [CI: 18.8 – 31.5]

Age of child (months)

   

 6-8

90.6 [CI: 86.2– 93.7]

9.4 [CI: 6.3 – 13.8]

χ2 = 31.0 p <0.001

 9-23

76.3 [CI: 73.6– 78.7]

23.7 [CI: 21.3 – 26.4]

Gender of child

   

 Male

75.5 [CI: 72.4 – 78.3]

24.5 [CI: 21.7 – 27.6]

χ2 = 11.5 , p = 0.001

 Female

81.7 [CI: 78.6 – 84.5]

18.3 [CI: 15.5 – 21.4]

Characteristic

Classification of chronic malnutrition

Test statistic

Normal

Stunted

Household wealth index

   

 Low

77.9 [CI: 75.4 – 80.2]

22.1 [CI: 19.8 – 24.6]

χ2 = 5.5 , p = 0.01

 High

87.5 [CI: 80.2 – 92.4]

12.5 [CI: 7.6 – 19.8]

Salt Iodine Content

  

χ2 = 8.7 , p = 0.03

 0 ppm

76.6 [CI: 73.4 – 79.6]

23.4 [CI: 20.4 – 26.6]

 Less than 15 ppm

78.0 [CI: 74.2 – 81.4]

22.0 [CI: 18.6 – 25.8]

 ≥15 ppm

84.6 [CI: 79.3 – 88.7]

15.4 [CI: 11.3 – 20.7]

 

CWC Attendance

   

 1-2

76.3 [CI: 72.1 – 80.0]

23.7 [CI: 20.0 – 27.9]

χ2 = 6.7 , p = 0.03

 3-4

80.6 [CI: 77.5 – 83.4]

19.4 [CI: 16.6 – 22.5]

 4+

94.7[CI: 80.8 – 98.7]

5.3[CI: 1.3 – 19.2]

Maternal Educational level

   

 None

77.2 [CI: 74.4 – 79.8]

22.8 [CI: 20.2 – 25.6]

χ2 = 5.6 , p = 0.04

 Low

81.2 [CI: 77.1 – 84.7]

18.8 [CI: 15.3 – 22.9]

 High

85.3 [CI: 77.5 – 90.7]

14.7 [CI: 9.3 – 22.5]

ANC Attendance

   

 <4 times

72.2 [CI: 66.9 – 76.9]

27.8 [CI: 23.1 – 33.1]

χ2 = 12.3 , p = 0.003

 ≥4 times

80.3 [CI: 77.4 – 82.8]

19.7 [CI: 17.2 – 22.6]

Timing of first complementary food at 6 months

   

 No

748 (77.0)

224 (23.0)

χ2 = 5.4 , p = 0.02

 Yes

752 (81.3)

173 (18.7)

  1. *95 % confidence level (CI)